Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot :)
I hope you enjoy the story!
Every one of her birthdays has brought nothing but bad luck to Bella . . . Until now. Her luck quickly changes when she falls for two guys; her English teacher Mr. Novak and the new guy in school Emmet McCarty. Just how much can Bella handle?
Chicken Soup for My Broken Heart
The shrill ringing of the freaking alarm clock yanked me out of my dream. Just great, another day of this hell I call my life has begun. I dragged my tired ass out of bed and practically crawled across the hall to our work out room. Don't ask why I have a gym in my home; it will only lead to unnecessary explanations.
After running on the treadmill for 45 minutes, I hit the showers. You see, every year, on this very day (for the past five years), I want nothing more than to purchase a gun and blow my brains out. Of course since I'm too chicken shit to actually put a gun to my head, I forgo all thoughts of suicide and settle for sulking instead.
Today is September thirteenth…My birthday…The worst day of the year. I hate my birthday because all it ever brings is disappointment. By the time my thirteenth birthday arrived, my dad Phil had broken my mother's heart and abandoned us. My dog Charlie ran away on my fourteenth birthday. When my fifteenth birthday (freshman year) rolled around, I had become antisocial and friendless, not to mention I decided I totally had the hots for Mr. Novak; a junior English teacher on campus (who by the way was way out of my league).
I was officially the town freak. To make matters worse, my fish Renée died on my sixteenth birthday. My bedroom window was struck by lightning and my curtains caught on fire on my seventeenth birthday. Every year I promise myself to finally grow a pair and make a move on Mr. Novak, but I end up chickening out because of my bad luck. I don't even want to find out what will happen to me today. Whatever happens, hopefully it will be quick and painless. So now you know why I hate my birthdays, they bring me nothing but anger and disaster.
After my cold shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and went down to the kitchen. "You look angrier than usual this morning." Caroline said with one of her creepy smiles. Let's just pause here for a second; Caroline is my mother and she highly disapproves of everything in my life. Here's the beginning of her complaints: 1.) She hates that my fashion sense isn't up to her standards.
It would be a dream come true for her if I dressed "pretty" or "girly" or wore clothes that according to her, "compliment my nice figure." I like my torn up jeans, dark t-shirts and tattered shoes. I love my clothes just the way they are. 2.) She "highly dislikes" the fact that I don't attempt to make friends.
I don't bother getting to know people because they're all the same in my eyes. Every person in Forks is judgmental; I've yet to come across one of my peers that isn't. Because I wear different clothes and listen to different music, they see me as an outsider. I'm no fucking alien and I shouldn't be treated like one.
3.) Above all, Caroline hates the fact that I refuse to date. She's constantly offering to set me up with guys. The very first time she offered, I didn't know any better, so I accepted and went along with it. Big mistake…no HUGE mistake. The date was awful.
Not only we had nothing in common, but to make matters worse, he made it clear that I wasn't his type and the only reason he didn't take off running was because he didn't want my mother to think he was rude. After all, Caroline was friends with his mother. When that incident passed, I didn't attempt dating again.
A few guys from school asked me from time to time as some sort of joke and I of course always said no. I probably still would have said no, even if they had been serious. Okay so back to the present tense. Caroline and I clearly have our differences. I glared at her for her comment and she rolled her eyes.
"I just don't get why you're always angry. No one does anything to you." She said as I tried to ignore her.
"Trust me, I don't get pissed all on my own." I snapped at her.
"Then who's got you so angry all the time?" Her eyebrows furrowed. I said nothing and walked past her. "Bella! Who's making you so angry?" She asked again.
"You are!" I yelled. "You and every other fucking person in this town that looks at me and sees an alien! You and everyone that judges me when they don't even know me!" I had finally lost it. The pressure was too much and I exploded.
"Honey, no one is judging you." She said. Her attempt to soothe me only pushed me further over the edge.
"That's bull-fucking-shit and you know it!" This is the angriest I've been in a long time. "You would be ecstatic if I dressed how you liked or if I got popular and became a fucking cheerleader just like you were. You'd love it if I changed and got a boyfriend. You and everyone that comes across me see me as a freak and I hate it! You don't know what I have to go through! You don't know the shit I have to put up with every fucking day of my life!" I screamed and slammed the fridge shut.
I originally came down to get breakfast but now I lost my appetite. I went back to my room and locked the door. I pulled on a pair of black jeans full of holes and my black "You say Tomato, I say Fuck You" t-shirt. After slapping some gel into my hair and straightening my bangs, I put on my black chucks and a few rainbow rave bracelets. I checked myself in the mirror for a quick second then tossed my phone into my bag and grabbed my keys.
I took my bag and headed down. Caroline was still in the kitchen when I came back down. "Bella I know how you feel. I-" She began to say but I cut her off.
"No. You don't know how I feel. You don't get me at all. You never have and you probably never will. Just be glad that I'm a good person and that I get good grades. Quit trying to change me into someone I'm not! You hardly know me!" I said and went outside.
I felt terrible for going off on Caroline like that. It's not her fault that I'm always pissed. . . well, it's sometimes not her fault. Out on the driveway—where my rusty pickup truck should have been— was a Red Camero with a giant white bow and a card on it. I looked around but my rusty red pickup truck was nowhere to be seen. I opened the card and read it. "Happy Birthday Baby! You're all grown up now. I love you –Mom." It read.
I snatched the bow off the car and threw it on the ground then proceeded to stomp all over in rage. I then threw my bag down and sat against the garage door. I cried and slammed my fists into the pavement repeatedly. She remembered my birthday and bought me the car I'd been saving up for and I was a total bitch. I take my anger and frustration out on her quite often and she still buys me a car; a very nice car. I feel like the biggest ass in the world.
I got up and ran back into the house. She hugged me the second I walked through the door. "I'm so sorry. I've been pissed since you and that bastard split and I've been blaming you for all my issues. I found it so much easier to deal with things by being pissed at you." I wailed like a big baby. She kissed the top my head.
"I love you and nothing will ever change that." She said.
"I know I act and dress different than most people in this town, but I love you too mom and I don't want you to think I'm a freak."
"You may be weird, but you're my weirdo." She said and kissed my head again then smiled and wiped my tears away.
"Thanks for the car. I love it."
"Happy Birthday baby." She said and gave me the keys. "Now hurry up or you'll be late for school." I hugged her and took the keys. Once outside, I picked my bad up off the floor and got in the car. The engine purred to life when I turned the key. It's so quiet it's almost creepy.
I sped to school with a smile on my face. If today went on without any usual birthday incidents, I might actually be happy for a change. Not fighting with Caroline felt good (although I'm sure the peace won't last for long, I'll try to make it last). For the first time in a while things might actually go right. Yeah right, I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I pulled into my usual parking space and got out. Just about everyone in the lot was looking my way, but that was nothing new. They stare at me every day, only today, the looks I got were somewhat envious. I guess they're surprised that I have a nice car. Caroline has tons of money, but I don't go flaunting it around. Despite the fact that Caroline is practically loaded, I try and work for my money, even though I can never hold a job for more than two months. I don't like to be told what to do and there's only so much an employer will take before giving me the boot.
I liked knowing that the stares I got were full of envy and not of judgment. A small group walked by and eyed my car. I didn't even try to hide the grin that spread across my face. "How'd you score this?" A snobby girl asked. I stared at her for a long time, then shrugged slowly. Her eyes narrowed and she walked off.
"Freak." She huffed under her breath as she went.
"Slut!" I said after her. Looks like today would be a bad day. I hate getting into arguments at school, but I hate taking people's shit even more.
"What?" She said angrily and whipped around.
"S-L-U-T. I hope you can spell." I said with a smirk.
"No wonder you have no friends. You're such a bitch." She hissed.
"Fuck you. I choose not to have friends. You and half the girls here are sluts, so I don't want, nor do I need your friendship." I said and turned away from her. I didn't need this bitch's attitude.
She stomped off and I leaned against the car to kill some time. A shiny blood red Ducati sped into the parking lot and parked a few spaces down from me. From the rider's form, I could tell it was a guy; a very fit, muscular guy. He got off his bike and pulled off his helmet. He had short light brown hair, a cute boyish, yet manly face with high cheekbones, and judging from the way his shirt clung tightly to his body, he had abs to kill for.
As he got closer, I noticed he had a faint trail of freckles dusted across his cheeks. His eyes were a brilliant light blue and god his lips were sexy; full, plump and pink. He smiled and nodded in my direction as he put on his jacket and walked towards the main office. He must be new, because I've never seen his gorgeous face around here. I could smell his cologne even after he was gone. I think I just found the love of my life. *Swoon*
I quickly locked the car and went off to my first class. People were shocked that I had the audacity to wear the shirt I had on (you say tomato, I say fuck you shirt). I ignored the stares and went to English. I liked to get there just a few minutes before the bell rang so I could get a decent seat or a better view of Mr. Novak, whatever floats your boat. I was a bit earlier than usual, so I turned in the essay that was assigned on Friday and sat in the corner to read.
"Good morning Ms. Swan." I jumped at the sound of Mr. Novak's voice.
"Hey." I said, my heart still racing.
"I apologize. I hadn't meant to startle you." He said with a bright smile. Mr. Novak was a nice guy. I had a crush on him since freshman year (I mentioned that in my rant this morning). He's sexy in the "hot for an older guy" way, despite being only 26. His beautiful green eyes always held a seductive spark in them and no one could resist the force of his killer smile or his beautiful childlike dimples. (Sex on legs! Am I right or am I right?). He's the only teacher that gets me. He's not like the others so we can relate to lots of things.
"Happy Birthday." He said and went to his desk to get papers ready for class. I'm not even going to dwell on how he knows it's my birthday.
"Thanks." I said dully.
"Why aren't you excited? You're 18, you're finally of legal age to party your own way!" He said with a kind smile. I know he meant well but his happy demeanor did nothing to help me; all it did was drive my hormones into overdrive.
"I hate my birthday; it's honestly the crappiest day of the year for me." I said.
"Why is that?" He asked, coming over to sit on the corner of my desk. My heart rate picked up and I looked around to avoid meeting his gaze.
"Something terrible always happens on my birthday." I said, looking down at my hands.
"Is that your theory?" He asked.
"Yes, it is." I replied truthfully.
"What if we did something fun to prove your theory wrong?" He asked.
"Like?" I tried not to get my hopes up. He's my teacher and the only thing he can do to make my birthday better would get him fired and most likely land him in jail.
"I don't know. Is there something you want to do?" He asked innocently enough. God, I hope there's a double meaning behind those words.
"No." I said flatly, killing my hopes before they rose too high.
"Are you sure there's nothing I can give you?"
A whole lot of Birthday Sex is what you can give me, I thought to myself. "You don't have to try and make this day better." I said.
"I want to." He said with a friendly smile.
"I don't need your pity." I said harshly. Mr. Novak sighed and went back to his desk. I felt bad for lashing out and thought about apologizing. I was too chicken, so I looked down and continued reading till the bell rang and students poured in. Another essay was assigned and we were given class time to work on it. I think Novak assigns so many essays because he enjoys reading what I have to say . . . And I'm not just saying that because I'm a damn good writer.
"Oh, I love what you did with your hair." The girl next to me said. Alice Cullen. She's a really pretty girl. She's popular; just about everyone knows her. Unlike me her popularity is a "god she's pretty" kind of popularity, where as mine is a "beware of the freak" kind of popularity. She talked to me every once in a while, but I'm not really all that into conversing with my peers.
"Me?" I asked dumbly.
"Of course you, silly. I love the colors you put in it. Did you use gel or wax to spike your hair up like that?" she asked. I had put pink and purple dye in my hair over the weekend.
"Gel. It holds better for my kind of hair." I replied and turned back to my essay.
"I'm Alice." She said and held her hand out.
"Bella." I said and looked at her hand.
"Come on, I don't bite." She said and I reached over to shake her hand. She sensed that I wasn't going to say much and left me alone. I was the first one to finish, as always. I tried to turn in my paper without drawing Mr. Novak's attention.
"Happy Birthday." He said in a low tone as soon as I reached his desk. He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a small light pink gift bag. He set the bag on the desk and gently pushed it towards me.
"I didn't mean to lash out the way I did. I put up a wall when people get too close." I said in a nearly inaudible whisper. He flashed me a smile and nudged the bag. I turned around to see if anyone was looking at us. I didn't want rumors starting and ruining his name simply because he cared enough to get me something on my birthday. People were talking and doing their own thing so no one was even looking our way.
"Thanks. You didn't have to." I said sheepishly.
"Well, I did. Despite your filthy mouth and complete disregard for your peers' feelings, you're a brilliant student and a kind girl when given the chance." He said, making my hear sink a little. It was nice that he though this of me, but it only proved that he saw me as a young woman; his student, not a woman he could see himself with.
I may not have his heart, but I do have his respect, and I plan on keeping it. "Thanks."
"You're brilliant, I hope you can see that." He said with a smile. "Now accept your gift and go back to your seat." He said in a stern tone. I would have taken him seriously, had he not broken into a smile. I smiled at him and took the gift to my seat.
"Awww, it's your birthday?" Alice asked. She's observant . . . I hope she doesn't make too big of a deal about getting a gift from Mr. Novak. "Well Happy Birthday Bella!" She nearly yelled and clapped her hands.
"Shhh!" I shushed and she giggled. "Don't say it so loud."
She rolled her eyes. "We should hang out some time. You can help me dye my hair." She said excitedly. I didn't want to be rude and say no so I just nodded.
The bell rang and boy was I glad. She smiled and went off to her next class. I put the gift bag in my backpack and thanked Mr. Novak again before walking out. "Nice shirt!" He called after me as I rushed to my locker. I dropped off some stuff, then ran to my next class.
Calculus and Spanish dragged on, and I couldn't be happier when the lunch bell rang. School has been in session less than 4 hours and already, there was gossip about the new guy circulating. Poor guy, people are already spreading rumors about him. He was being dragged left and right and got caught in between the crossfire when people began to fight over who gets to sit next to him.
I took my usual seat at the furthest corner of the cafeteria (away from all the morons and airheads). After dropping my bag and pulling out my lunch, I grabbed a magazine, along with a permanent marker from my bag. I always have a magazine, just in case I get bored. I usually flip through magazines and fix all the wrong crap. And by fix, I mean cross out everything I don't like and write in my own comments on every picture. I would then take the magazine to a random store and drop it in with the other magazines. Some poor sap would end up purchasing it by accident.
I was eating my sandwich and reading an article on lady gaga when I felt someone kick my chair. I frowned and looked up. The hot new guy. "Mind if I sit here?" He asked and looked down at the chair where I had my feet propped. I shrugged and went back to my article. If it were anyone else, I would have flat out said no.
"Shrugging isn't an answer, so I'll just assume you meant yes." He said and set his tray on the table. I dropped my feet to the floor and he took a seat. "You can put your feet back up if that makes you more comfortable." He said and motioned to his leg.
"Why are you sitting here?" I asked.
"Does it bother you that I chose to sit here?" He asked, ignoring my question.
"You didn't answer my question." I stated.
"And you didn't answer mine." He said and began to eat his food.
"Yes, it bothers me very much." I answered his question after a few minutes of silence. See I can't be nice to him just because he's hot; for all I know, he's just like the rest of the assholes in this town.
"Why?" He asked with a smile that made my heart stutter.
"Because you could be sitting with anyone you want, and yet you choose to come sit here." I said. He thought things over for a bit, then went back to his food. When he said nothing for a while, I went back to reading the article on lady gaga.
He took me by surprise when he grabbed my feet and propped them up on his leg. "Maybe I sat here because I wanted to befriend you." He said and leaned back in his chair.
"Why the hell would you want that?" I asked and he shrugged.
"Why the hell not?" He asked.
"You want the truth?" I asked and he nodded eagerly.
"Be brutally honest." He said with a grin.
"If I had a list of all the people I could never be friends with, you would be somewhere near the top of that list." I said, but his grin didn't falter.
"And why is that?" He continued smirking.
"We're complete opposites." His smile got impossibly bigger when I said that.
"Well, haven't you ever heard? Opposites attract." A good feeling washed over me when the words left his lips.
"You are big and muscular, I am slim and petite. You are both good looking and the popular type, I am neither of those. You seem spontaneous and full of life, I wouldn't exactly say I'm full of life and I'm most definitely not spontaneous. How exactly do you see us being friends?" I babbled.
"One: I don't mind that you're smaller than me, most people are, two: It's you whose popular; I don't think there's a single person in this school that doesn't know who you are, three: You're one of the prettiest girls I've ever met, four: putting crazy colors in your hair seems like a pretty spontaneous thing to do, and five: anyone alive is full of life." And just like that, he became one of my favorite people. I also didn't miss the fact that he called me pretty; it was nice to hear, even if it wasn't true.
"You're not so bad." I said and went back to my lunch and magazine. "What class do you have next?" I asked curiously.
"I haven't been assigned any classes yet. I've been testing all morning and I don't get my schedule till tomorrow morning—after they have my results." He said.
I was about to respond when I heard very nasal voice. "Hey there, you must be new to Forks." The girl was clearly talking to the new guy. I looked up and growled involuntarily; it was the bitch I yelled at this morning. The new guy chuckled and nodded.
"Yep." He said with a friendly smile.
"You can come sit with me and my friends. You're not obligated to sit with . . .her." She said and wrinkled her nose as if she smelt something foul.
"Listen bitch—" I began before being rudely cut off.
"No you listen freak, just the sight of you makes me feel unsanitary. I feel the need to clean myself every time I see you." She said nasally.
"How about I shove my foot up your ass! How's that for sanitary?" I growled, getting ready to put a dent in her face. The new guy chuckled quietly.
"You've got a lot of nerve Swan. Your freakiness will last forever." She said eyeing me coldly.
"Yeah? Well so will your Herpes Bitch!" I yelled.
"Ladies, can't we all be friends?" The new guy said with a smile.
"Like I'd be caught dead with that freak!" The girl shrieked dramatically.
"Drop dead and go fuck yourself!" I said. Water sprayed out of the new guy's mouth and nose, effectively wetting the bitch. He laughed like a lunatic before wiping his mouth clean.
"I apologize. That was rude and disgusting." He said offering the girl a napkin. She took the napkin and left without another word. The bell rang so I put my stuff away and threw out my trash. The new guy stood and watched me for a few seconds.
"I'm Emmett." He said. I opened my mouth to say my name but he beat me to it. "Bella, I know." He said with a cute grin.
I gave him a questioning look and he laughed. "I'm no stalker, I asked around." He said.
"Anything else you know about me that I haven't old you?" I asked with playful frown.
"Yeah. You swear like a sailor. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" He asked and chuckled. I smiled and went to class without another word. My last three classes went by slowly. I was more than excited when the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.
My finger was still bleeding from pricking it in biology, so I went to the bathroom to take care of it. I stepped into a stall to get toilet paper to wipe away the blood. The bathroom door opened and closed.
"Ugh, I know. I can't believe he sat with her." A girl's voice said.
"What does he see in that freak? She's insane and has no fashion sense whatsoever." Another voice threw in. I walked out of the stall and washed my hands.
"Slut isn't a fashion sense." I glared at one girl. "Bitch isn't either." I said and turned my glare to the other girl. I walked out and went to the parking lot. A small group of guys were huddled by my car and Mike Newton was practically feeling up my baby.
"Michael, get your hands off the car or the next time you make physical contact with a Camero will be when I hit you with mine." I said and threw my bag in the passenger seat.
"How much was it?" Mike asked.
"I don't know."
"Where'd you buy it?" Tyler asked.
"I didn't buy it." I said, getting annoyed.
"Well then where'd you get—" Someone else began to ask.
"I stole it alright?" I yelled. Every face was shocked at my answer; good. I got in the car and sped home. Those idiots will believe anything they hear.
As usual, when I got home, the house was empty. Caroline leaves for work just as I leave for school and doesn't get home till late at night; usually when I'm already asleep. I went to the fridge and grabbed a soda, that's when I was hit with a brilliant idea.
Well here's the 1st chapter . . . Review and tell me what you think :)